Youth Smoking Abstinence

According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) in 2014, 91% (83.0%, 98.7%) of Simcoe Muskoka youth (12-18 years) report never having smoked a whole cigarette in their life. This was not significantly different than what was reported by youth (12-18 years) for all of Ontario, where 90% (88.0%, 92.0%) reported never smoking a whole cigarette in their life. There has been a significant increasing trend in the per cent of youth (12-18 years) that report never smoking a cigarette in their life over the past decade.

The percent of youth that report never smoking a cigarette in their life decreases significantly with age. According to the CCHS, between the years of 2011 and 2014 (combined), virtually all youth under the age of fourteen reported never having smoked a whole cigarette in their life; however, by the age eighteen, less than three-quarters reported never smoking a cigarette. This was consistent with what was reported by Ontario youth during this same time period.

The per cent of Ontario youth (12-18 years) that have never smoked a cigarette in their life is highest among those in the highest household income category and those that live in a two-parent household. According to the CCHS, between the years of 2011 and 2014 (combined), 83% (77.3%, 87.3%) of Ontario youth (12-18 years) living in the lowest income category reported never smoking a whole cigarette in their life, which was significantly lower than the 91% (89.6%, 92.1%) of youth living in the highest income category that reported never smoking. In addition, 81% (78.1%, 83.9%) of youth living in a single-parent household reported never smoking, which was significantly lower than the 91% (89.8%, 92.0%) of youth living in a two-parent household that reported never smoking.